Anti-corruption police launch investigation into allegations of Quebec Liberals’ wrongdoings

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Quebec’s anti-corruption police have launched a criminal investigation into the Quebec Liberals’ wrongdoing allegations.

The investigation comes after the alleged use of National Assembly funds for partisan purposes and the leadership race that led to the appointment of leader Pablo Rodriguez.

In a statement to Radio-Canada, Mathieu Galarneau, a spokesperson for the unit known as UPAC, confirmed the launch of an investigation. The unit did not confirm its motives.

“We will not issue any further comments in order to protect our actions as much as possible and to respect the rights of those involved,” wrote Galarneau. 

“A criminal investigation must remain confidential, and we want our investigators to do their job.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Rodriguez reacted to the news of the anti-corruption unit’s investigation and wrote on X that his party would cooperate fully with the UPAC.

“It is important to get to the bottom of this. I am the first to want that,” he wrote.

“If someone has committed an illegal act, the truth must come out, and as leader, I will act without hesitation.”

Controversies escalating over last weeks

In November, the Journal de Montréal revealed alleged text messages involving unidentified parties suggesting that members who supported Rodriguez during the race received cash rewards.

Speaking to journalists at a news conference last month, Rodriguez said he found out about the alleged text messages for the first time upon reading the Journal article.

The party later said Jacques R. Fournier, a retired judge, was hired to investigate the leadership race allegations. He will have to submit a report by the end of January 2026.

Last week, MNA Sona Lakhoyan Olivier was excluded from the Liberal caucus for the duration of an investigation led by the National Assembly’s ethics commissioner.

Party whip Marc Tanguay said Rodriguez requested the exclusion.

Olivier’s name, as well as that of CAQ MNA Alice Abou-Khalil, were mentioned by 98.5, a French-language radio station, in connection with the allegations.

WATCH | Explaining the controversies:

Quebec Liberal Party crisis deepens with dual scandals escalating

What began as the dismissal of an MNA’s chief of staff and striking allegations involving the party’s leader in a news article has grown into a situation that could threaten the Quebec Liberal Party’s chances in next year’s provincial election.

According to a news release by the Quebec Liberals, the investigation concerns the use of resources made available to the Chomedey constituency office for partisan purposes related to the party’s last leadership race.

Saint-Laurent MNA Marwah Rizqy was also expelled from the Quebec Liberal caucus. Rodriguez accused her of acting alone and placing herself above the team following the firing of her chief of staff, Geneviève Hinse.

Geneviève Hinse had previously worked with Rodriguez when he was an MP in Ottawa.